HS TRACK: MHS, Lee get early look at 2-5A competition

Jonathan Hull | jhull@mrt.com

Published 11:00 am, Thursday, February 28, 2013

It's never too early to get an idea of what your competition is bringing to the table.

The Midland High and Lee track teams get an opportunity to gauge how they stand in District 2-5A when they take part in the Rogers Ford Lincoln Tall City Invitational at Memorial Stadium this weekend. The meet is set to begin at 1 p.m. today with six field events, while running events start at 4 p.m. Saturday's action gets underway at 10 a.m. with the remaining field events, and the running finals get underway at 1:30 p.m.

The meet features three divisions for a second consecutive year with Division I being made up entirely of District 2-5A schools. Midland High and Lee are joined by Odessa High, Odessa Permian, San Angelo Central and district newcomer Lubbock Coronado. The only 2-5A squads missing are Abilene High, Abilene Cooper and Amarillo Tascosa.

The field is basically what is expected when competing in West Texas.

"Out here in West Texas you're going to see these same teams over and over anyway," Midland High boys coach Jeff Streun said. "It's got its positives and negatives. We get to see how each kid improves against the district competition each week, but you do get tired of seeing the same people every week, too."

Still, it's never too early to know what kind of challenges your main competition offers.

"It's an opportunity for our team to get an idea of what our district is going to be like," Lee girls coach Mike Connelly said. "It lets us know where we need to end up by the time we get to the district meet."

Of course, seeing district mates compete so early should come with the disclaimer, "What you're seeing now, might not be what you're getting later."

"It's always good to see your district opponents but it's hard to gauge exactly what a team has right now," Midland High girls coach Tim Anuszkiewicz said. "Coaches have athletes playing other sports right now. You get a good idea, but you can't exactly say this is what you're going to see once district comes around."

Still, none of the Midland ISD coaches are upset with the thought of seeing district newcomer Lubbock Coronado this early.

"It's good to see who your competition is going to be," Connelly said. "I'm glad they're going to be there. It's good to see what they have and what our girls might need to work toward. It works out nicely because next week we get to see Amarillo Tascosa at the West Texas Relays (in Odessa)."

The meet also features Division II, which is made up of Midland Christian, Hereford, Lubbock Monterey and Lubbock Estacado. The boys field also includes El Paso Austin and El Paso Jefferson, while the girls also add El Paso Irvin.

And while it might be a small division, MCS coach Chris McKinney still feels the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs will get some strong competition out of the meet. In fact, McKinney says it's the best competition MCS has seen at the Tall City Invite in some time.

"A couple years ago it was really bad," McKinney said. "I asked to compete with the 5A division originally, but I'm all in with the addition of Monterey and the El Paso schools. This is a much more competitive division now. I only hope it continues to grow."

Division III is made up of mostly junior varsity squads, but several Class 2A and Class A schools are also competing, including Trinity, Iraan, Stanton, Forsan, Grady and Coahoma.

"We like coming to this meet because it is close for us and we are going to see some good competition out of it," Stanton coach Dan Arista said. "It will be good for us and a good experience for our young kids. There are good quality teams showing up here."

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Athletes to watch

Boys

Christian Farris, Trinity

Events: 3,200 meters, 1,600 meters

Reason to watch: While most of his teammates will compete in Division III, Farris always makes the move up to Division I to compete with the larger school athletes. And typically he fares pretty well, winning the 3,200 meters at last year's Tall City.

DeAndre Goodley, Midland High

Events: 100 meters, 400 relay, 800 relay, Long jump

Reason to watch: Goodley opened the season with a gold medal in the 100 meters at the City Bank Tiger Relays in Wolfforth last week. He also placed fourth in the long jump.

Talor Nunez, Lee

Events: 110 hurdles

Reason to watch: Nunez is a regional qualifier in the 110 hurdles, and started his senior year off with a gold medal in the event in New Braunfels last week.

Matt Ramirez, Midland Christian

Events: High jump, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 1,600 relay

Reason to watch: Ramirez won four medals at last week's Comanche Relays in Fort Stockton, winning the 300 hurdles and high jump. He got silver in the 110 hurdles and as a member of the Mustangs' 1,600 relay team.

Girls

Shay Ray, Lee

Events: 100 meters, Triple jump, Long jump, 400 relay, 800 relay

Reason to watch: Ray has established herself as the fastest girl in the district, having won two straight district titles in the 100 meters. She's looking to make sure she keeps her favorite status early in the year.

Tori Rackow, Lee

Events: 200 meters, Triple jump, Long jump, 400 relay, 800 relay

Reason to watch: Rackow won five medals last week at the Unicorn Relays in New Braunfels and could duplicate that effort this weekend. This is her first year to run the 200 meters instead of the 100 meters after qualifying for region in the 100 a year ago.

Bria Lewis, Midland High

Event: 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 relay, 800 relay

Reason to watch: Lewis won a bronze medal in the 100 at the City Bank Tiger Relays in Wolfforth last week, and could turn out to be a threat to qualify for the regional tournament.

Lindsey Friesenhahn, Trinity

Events: 3,200 meters, 1,600 meters, 800 meters

Reason to watch: Friesenhahn was a regional qualifier for Lee last year, but transferred to Trinity and has already won a state title in cross country. Her coach Cindy Brock feels she's capable of winning any race from the 400 meters to the 3,200 meters and could opt to compete in any of them. She will compete in Division I.

Kami Berryhill, Midland Christian

Events: Pole vault, 100 hurdles, 400 relay, 800 relay, Long jump

Reason to watch: Berryhill keeps a full slate, but her best event is the pole vault. She's the defending TAPPS 4A state champion in the event, and might be the best girls vaulter at this weekend's meet regardless of division.